EXHIBIT 23.1

CONSENT OF INDEPENDENT ACCOUNTANTS

We hereby consent to the incorporation by reference in the Registration
Statements on Form S-3 (No. 333-85894) and Form S-8 (No. 333-105803, No.
333-61336 and No. 333-47768) of Charles River Laboratories International, Inc.
of our report dated February 6, 2004 relating to the financial statements and
financial statement schedules, which appears in this Form 10-K.


PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP

Boston, Massachusetts
March 10, 2004